Chicken Dominoes

Chicken Dominoes - A double-nine domino set plus... chickens ??

Despite the therapeutic value in playing domino games, I have yet to work with anyone who likes them. As a child, it was one of the few games we played with my grandma, so I loved playing.

Unlike the picture dominoes that I have blogged about, Chicken Dominoes have the dots (pips) that are on standard dominoes. However, unlike the standard dominoes, these pips are colored (see images). The colors include gray, blue, yellow, pink, green, red, orange, and purple. Each domino has dots on one side only and will have two sets of dots divided by a black line (see images). A double is a domino with the same amount of dots on both sides. Go once more to the image above and you will see a double nine at the very top of the box.

Unlike the original dominoes game, there is a black plastic piece called a starter piece in this game. You can see it in the image above. You will place the first double in this piece to start the game. There are eight areas that can then be played off this piece. 

This game also chickens. Cute, tiny, colorful plastic chickens. I'll explain why in the instructions below.

Chicken Foot                                             Chickens

Object:
Have the lowest score after the last round of play.

Set up:
Place the dominoes face down on the table and mix them. This is the chicken yard. Players each pick dominoes and keep them secret from the other players (stand them on their sides facing you). If there are two players, each player picks nine dominoes. Three to six players, each player picks seven dominoes.

Play:
The person with the highest double places it in the middle of the starter piece. For instance say that the double six is played. There are now a total of eight additional dominoes that have a six on them (blank six, one six, two six, three six, etc.) In turn, each player must now play one of these dominoes (see image at top of page).

If a player does not have one of the dominoes he says "CLUCK, CLUCK" to indicate he is passing and then picks a domino from the chicken yard. If it is a match he is allowed to play it, then the next person plays. Once all eight dominoes are in place, players can now play off the end of any of the dominoes.

Whenever a double domino (same number on both ends) is played on an open end, a chicken foot must be made. To make a chicken foot, a player places the domino sideways instead of connecting it to the open end (see image above). They then place a chicken on the sideways domino to indicate a chicken foot has to be made. A matching domino must now be played on the chicken foot by the next player. Players continue to add dominoes to the chicken foot until the three positions are filled. If they do not have a match, they must say "cluck cluck" to indicate he is passing and picking from the chicken yard. Only after the chicken foot is made can the players remove the chicken and go back to playing on the other open ends in the game.

Play continues until a player uses all his dominoes or no legal moves can be made. Players count the number of dots on their remaining dominoes and this becomes their score. If you get yolked (you still have the double blank domino), too bad, you score an extra 25 points. Ten rounds are played with a double nine set and the player with the lowest score is the winner.

Try this:

• Skip the game, just make a long line on dominoes, matching the dots end to end. 
• Stack them, how high can you go?
• Turn the domino in-hand before placement if you pick it up in the wrong orientation.
• Stand them on end, line them up (close together), then push the domino on the end and watch the chain reaction as they fall. It takes a steady hand to get them close enough but still not setting it off inadvertently by bumping a neighboring domino. Carefully stand the chickens on top of several of the dominoes before pushing them over. This really takes a steady hand.
• Line them up in a sequence. Start with blank/one, then two/three, then four/five, etc. 
• Sort them. Pick out all the doubles, or all dominoes with 1 dot, or all with green etc.
• Place all the tiles randomly, face up, on the table. Turn them so that they are going every which way (not in a straight format). Call a number and ask the player to find all the dominoes with that number.
• Make color copies of some of the dominoes and cut them apart. Place several dominoes, dot side up, on the table. Make sure that the dominoes are there that you have made copies of. Present the cards one at a time and ask the player to find each matching domino. 
• Randomly place dominoes dot side up on the table top. Play I Spy. For instance say "I spy something blue and green". So who can find the matching domino first. Or call out two numbers, such as five and three. See who can spot it first. Let the player who spots it take the domino. See who can collect three first.
• Work on visual discrimination, spatial relations, visual closure, figure ground, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, precise fine motor control, strategy, sequencing, mental math, color recognition, counting to nine, socialization skills, process skills, executive functioning skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the tin: 55 double nine dominoes, 9 chickens, starter piece

If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.

5 Second Rule Jr.

5 Second Rule Jr. - You're going to have to think fast

I've been waiting to find 5 Second Rule Junior ever since it was released, about two years ago. Not willing to pay full price for a game I would play with just a few people, I waited to find it second hand. Today was my lucky day.

Can you spit out three kinds of cereal in five seconds? Whoa, that didn't come out right. Let me try that again. Can you name three types of cereal, fast? As the name of the game implies, you will have only 5 seconds to play on each turn.

The small box in the image above holds 200 category cards and the cards are printed on both sides, so 400 categories all together. For each category you are required to name three things before your five seconds are up. Here are examples of categories:

• Name 3
• Things you wear
• Thing you cut
• Reptiles
• Things in your backpack
• Things you chew
• Things underground
• Sounds
• Berries
• Books
• Places you see stairs
• Things you do in art class

5 Second Rule Jr. has one of the most unique timers you will ever use. The timer is plastic, about 5.25" tall, has a swirled ramp inside and has multiple tiny small metal balls that will roll to the bottom when turned (see image below). It also makes a funny "zoop" sound when it is flipped. To time you, another player will read your category and then flip the plastic timer. Think fast, because five seconds will fly by. Sometimes three things will come out so fast you will have time left. Other times, even though it is a common category, you may stall after one or two. Time pressure may take its toll.

If you look close you can see the balls swirling as they roll down.

The game includes a game board that measures 7.5" x 10" and six plastic pawns. Sometimes we just skip the game board and collect cards instead.

This game requires very quick thinking and is not for everybody. Some people take longer to think, and there is nothing wrong with that. For those people I reduce the requirements to two instead of three or skip playing altogether.

If have also blogged about the original, non-junior version of this game. If you would like to read about it, click here.

Object:
Be the first player to reach the finish line.

Set up:
Place the board on the table between players. Each player chooses one pawn and places it on the start square. Mix the category cards and stand them in the box. Leave the cards in the box where all the writing is covered so that no one can read a category ahead of time and get a head start. Place the timer nearby.

Play:
Players take turns. The person to the left of the player will choose a category card, read it, and then flip the timer. The player has five seconds to name three things in his category. If he succeeds, he moves his pawn one square forward on the board. The same subject is now passed to the next player who must also name three, but cannot repeat any the first player said. If he succeeds, he moves up a square on the game board. Continue in this manner until someone fails to name three. That player will not move on the game board and the next player is presented with a new category. Continue until someone reaches the finish square and wins the game. 

There are three squares on the board that say 5 + 5. If you are sitting on one of those squares when your turn starts, you will get an additional five seconds, 10 total, to answer.

Try this:

• Use a new card for every person instead of continuing the same topic.
• Play with the cards without the board. Set a number ahead of time, such as 10. First player to win that many cards wins the game.
• Pass the category forward to the next person only if the first player fails.
• Change it from name three to name two if the player needs more time.
• Pause a couple seconds after reading the card to flip the timer. That will give the player a couple seconds head start. Five seconds flies by fast.
• Stack the deck before you start so that you can accomplish what you want to with each different individual. 
• Skip the timer, just practice naming three in a category.

In the box: game board, timer, 6 pawns, 200 category cards in a box